International Longshoremen's Association Affiliating With International Dockworker's Council

07/19/2012

The International Longshoremen's Association, AFL-CIO plans to affiliate with the worldwide International Dockworkers Council (IDC), according to an announcement today by the ILA's president, Harold J. Daggett.

The IDC is an association formed by organization of dockworkers from around theworld. It is defined by its basic principles as being a unitary, independent, democratic assembly-basked working-class organization.

"We are looking to build strong solidarity with waterfront workers in the United States and around the world," President Daggett told some 200 ILA Wage Scale delegates gathered in Delray Beach, Florida for negotiations with United States Maritime Alliance (USMX). "The ILA enjoys strong bonds of solidarity with our sister union on the U.S. West Coast, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and with transportation workers around the world through our affiliation with the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF). Now we are connected closely with our Sister and Brother dockworkers at ports everywhere with our affiliation with the IDC."

The ILA leader announced his union's affiliation at Wage Scale meetings to fortify the union's bargaining position with East and Gulf Coast employers belonging to USMX. The current ILA contract expires on September 30, 2012.

Last week, ILA President Daggett, ILA's Atlantic Coast District President Dennis Daggett and Kenneth Riley, an ILA Vice President from Charleston, South Carolina met with leaders of the IDC in New York City where it was decided the ILA would join the IDC. Already, several ILA Locals in the U.S. and Canada were affiliated members of the IDC and Brother Kenneth Riley currently serves as Coordinator of the IDC's North America East Coast Zone.